Monday, December 03, 2012

Public Forum Dec. 10 Will Examine Sandy Response

For the third time in three years, Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff is seeking public input on how the town and utility companies responded to a major storm event.

A Saugatuck Shores home damaged by Storm Sandy. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

He announced today that a public meeting has been scheduled for Monday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Auditorium to allow residents to voice their concerns and ask questions regarding the utility companies’ response during Storm Sandy. The storm destroyed hundreds of homes and left many in the dark for more than a week.

In addition to members of the Westport emergency management team, representatives from Connecticut Light & Power Company, Aquarion Water Company, AT&T, and Cablevision have been invited to participate,

“I encourage residents to attend this meeting to express their thoughts, ideas and concerns, and ask questions about the emergency response during Storm Sandy,” said Joseloff

On June 21, 2010, Joseloff, with the help of the Public Protection Committee of the Representative Town Meeting, held a public forum on the response to the March nor’easter that year. (See WestportNow June 21, 2010)

And on Oct. 13, 2011, Joseloff held another public forum to review the response to Hurricane Irene that left thousands without power for up to eight days. (See WestportNow Oct. 13, 2011)

In addition to the Westport meeting, on Thursday Joseloff, as chair of the South Western Regional Metropolitan Planning Organization, will lead a public discussion among the mayors and first selectmen of southwest Connecticut on how the storm impacted their communities and the response by utility companies and others.

The meeting will be held at 8:15 a.m. at the Norwalk Transit District headquarters, 275 Wilson Ave.